Area efficient, sequential gray code to thermometer code decoder

An apparatus for decoding a consecutive sequence of N-bit Gray coded words, comprising:

• a sequential Gray code to Thermometer code decoder, having a plurality of cascaded decoding-latching stages each responsive to an individual one of single-bit changes between consecutive N-bit Gray coded words.

A Gray code decoder comprising:

• a plurality of cascaded decoding-latching stages, each decoding-latching stage responsive to an individual one of single-bit changes between consecutive counts in a Gray code, each decoding-latching stage adapted to detecting and latching the occurrence of one such single-bit change, each decoding and latching stage having a decoding-latching circuit.

A circuit for decoding counts of an N-bit gray code to up to 2N−1 Thermometer coded bits, comprising:

• a plurality (u) of cells, each cell being adapted to output a single bit of the Thermometer coded bits, wherein an output of each of the u cells is influenced by an operative connection from an output of any next cell and is further influenced by an operative connection from an output of any prior cell.

An apparatus for converting gray code to thermometer code, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each module receiving one bit of the gray code and outputting a bit of the thermometer code, each module being coupled serially to another module.

A method for decoding a consecutive sequence of N-bit Gray coded words, comprising:

• creating a plurality of cascaded decoding-latching stages, each stage responsive to an individual one of single-bit changes between consecutive N-bit Gray coded words.

A method of Gray code decoding, comprising:

• providing a plurality of cascaded decoding-latching stages, each decoding-latching stage responsive to an individual one of single-bit changes between consecutive counts in a Gray code, each decoding and latching stage having a decoding-latching circuit;
• and
• detecting and latching, by each decoding-latching stage, the occurrence of each such single-bit change.

A method for decoding counts of an N-bit gray code to up to u Thermometer coded bits, comprising:

• providing a plurality (u) of cells, wherein u is an integer equal to or less than 2N−1;
• and
• outputting by each cell a single bit of the Thermometer coded bits, wherein the outputting by each said cell is influenced by an operative connection from an output of any next cell and is further influenced by an operative connection from an output of any prior cell.